I learned a really good lesson following a fresh track in the rain once: look up from the track often or you'll walk right into the critters! True story, 5 yards, big time busted.
Yep. Killed my first elk at 12 years old like this. Followed the fresh tracks with my head down for about a mile on an old grade until my old man and I were certain that we smelled them, only to look up and see them at 10 yards wide eyed. Lol. The stupid muzzleloader misfired and when they stopped at 75 yards to do a double take, that was it with cap #2.
Also, for late season cow my partner and I have tracked down quite a few different herds over the last few years. In 2008 we followed the tracks in to their beds and jumped them at 40 yards. Because only one elk saw us and spooked the herd I started a string of regathering cow sounds. The half of the herd that started down the ridge stopped and started to come back. My partner and I peeked over the edge and timed shooting two separate cows at the same time. Both died within 60 yards of each other.
Roosevelt's are very easy to track down in late season when they are in herds of 10 or more. The skill comes in reading sign and knowing what to do when you bust them.
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